Freddie Freeman's eight-year, $135MM extension with the Braves is a "foreboding barometer" for the Marlins when considering a Giancarlo Stanton extension, writes Juan C. Rodriguez of the Miami Sun-Sentinel. Rodriguez points out the similarity in service time for each player, noting that one more strong season would only make it more expensive for the Fish. Stanton already has a large edge in power, though his durability could be questioned in extension talks. More from baseball's Eastern divisions…
- The Orioles will scout Cuban outfielder Rusney Castillo, an industry source tells Eduardo A. Encina of the Baltimore Sun. The 26-year-old has batted .319/.383/.516 over the past five seasons in Serie Nacional. The speedy Castillo comes with experience at both outfield corners as well as second and third base. The Dodgers are known to have scouted him as well, but he's yet to be cleared by OFAC to sign with a big league club.
- MASNsports.com's Steve Melewski looks at David Lough's long path to the Majors and writes that Orioles hitting coach Jim Presley has been a fan of the 28-year-old since seeing him with the Royals last year. Lough hopes to win the starting left field job in Baltimore this Spring.
- Orioles lefty Troy Patton, who is suspended for the first 25 games of the season, told Melewski that he took Adderall to improve his focus and energy at one point and called it a "stupid mistake." Patton's suspension could have an impact on Brian Matusz, Melewski continues, as the team was looking at giving him another crack as a starter. However, without Patton in the bullpen, the O's would be without their two primary lefty relievers to open the year in that case.
- The Mets are still unwilling to commit multiple years to Stephen Drew, according to Andy Martino of the New York Daily News. Agent Scott Boras continues to wait out the market, but it's fair to wonder if Boras will have to drag a few "mystery teams" into the mix for Drew.
Drew and Boras can afford to wait. He can see what happens with teams during ST or worse case I actually think it’s may be in his best interest to wait until the amateur draft in the beginning of June. At that point teams won’t have to give up a draft choice to sign him and he instantly becomes more attractive to get probably a 3 year deal at that point.
Picking this option for players may be an inevitability. And when it happens, the Union is going to go crazy.
why would the union go crazy?
First thing that comes to mind is the systematic and institutionalized influences leading an otherwise healthy and capable member of its union to not work for half a year.
Considering the extremely small number of players negatively affected by QO (Drew and Morales or 2 of 1200 MLB players on a 40 man roster), I highly doubt the union will have much to say beyond assuring the QO is a one time per player deal.
It’s not like anyone put a gun to either players head. They were offered 14 million dollars and to date are on the wrong side of a calculated risk.
I think a better ratio would be players affected/free agents. You can’t be affected if you haven’t hit FA yet. You also forgot Lohse
Seems like the league would go crazy. If a couple of the QO guys waited until June to sign they could have a tremendous impact on the playoff hunt and trade market.
Great point. I was kind of wondering if there were any restrictions with the type of contract if they waited until after their draft pick compensation was out of the picture (didn’t see why there would be). The market for guys like Morales and Cruz would soar after the draft.
I’m not sure if soar is the right word. Both would need time to get ready and they’d both be out paydays for half the season. Are they really going to get 3 year deals after sitting idly for awhile? Maybe a two year deal.
Drew already has a 2 year deal from the Red Sox and can probably get one from the Mets and Twins as well. The Red Sox are going to juggle his playing time though as the youngsters keep getting better, as well as his position if they need to. The Mets really need him, and if it was only a matter of a 2 year deal, I think he’d already be there. This is Boras though, and I think he’s holding out for a 3 year deal because he thinks he’s worth it.
The market though, does not. sniff sniff.
It’s possible that waiting until June might open up a 3 year contract somewhere, but it’s just as possible that it wouldn’t. It’s a pretty big gamble though.
It’s less likely that it would open up a 3 year deal. By June, his suitors might not need his services at SS.
Yea, soar was probably a bad word for it. But I could definitely see more teams open to signing them, and by that time they may be willing to take less money since it would take some time to get conditioned to play (not a whole lot of time)
He might get a longer deal, but it will be prorated for the part of the season he didn’t play this year, and he probably won’t want to lose out those few million. It makes the 3 year deal a little more complicated, because it has to be worth losing that extra few million from April – June.
A .222./.292 line vs LH pitching for a guy seeking multiple years and going to be 31YO this year is more of a deterrent than a QO. The guy cannot hit LH pitching any longer. Why give out 10m++ over multiple years to a platoon player?
Edit..
Excuse me.. I was looking at it wrong and it’s even worse…
.196/.246
Poster child for platoon player.. My goodness.. WMB has somewhat better splits vs RH pitchers (OPS also) at .206/.244.
And Tejada is a career .296/.367 hitter against lefties. Put the two together and you’ve got a 3-4 WAR platoon with scratch to above average defense and well-above average offense from the SS position. Tejada has done well against lefties every year he’s played in the Bigs, including last year, when he struggled against righties mightily. Sandy’s just trying to get the price down as far as possible. If he can sign him for 2/$20, he will do it.
No way I would sign him to a 2 year deal. Next year’s FA class is too deep to justify it. I’m anti-Drew but if they sign him I hope it’s for either 1 or 3 years. I’d much rather just hope that Tejada has a bounce back year and deal with it in 2015 if he doesn’t
I just want to note that David Wright, an all star and potential future hall of famer, signed an 8 year, 138 million dollar contract.
The Drew saga still amazes me. He immediately improves not just the Mets, but also the Yankees and Red Sox. I imagine that two year is the maximum that he is receiving.
I think the Mets have no intention of signing him unless they can get him at a discount, as they know that almost no teams are interested in him. He’s injury prone and is a league-average hitter; even with him, the Mets probably don’t make the playoffs. This year is about letting some of the young guys grow while waiting for Harvey to return. Next offseason has a few similar, if not better, options at SS, and at that point, the Mets will have a better feel for where they stand as it relates to sustained contention.
If the Mets think they will have better options next off season, that makes perfect sense. Though I wouldn’t characterize him as injury prone. His ankle injury was brutal. His .777 OPS, despite an awful April was on the high end for short stops. His .837 second half OPS helped keep Boston’s offense potent in the bottom third.
I guess ‘injury-prone’ isn’t the right word, but he still hasn’t played a full season since 2010.
A league average hitter for a SS is very uncommon. Last year there were 18 SS with at least 500 PA. Out of the 18, 6 had wRC+ of at least 100 and only 5 had an OPS+ of at least 100.
A league average hitter for a SS is very uncommon. Last year there were 18 SS with at least 500 PA. Out of the 18, 6 had wRC+ of at least 100 and only 5 had an OPS+ of at least 100.
He absolutely improves both the Mets and the Yankees but it’s not clear he improves the Red Sox, unless he’s willing to sit on the bench. The Red Sox have Pedroia at 2B, Bogaerts at SS, and Middlebrooks at 3B. Incidentally, the spell-checker on my computer hates all three of those names.
I don’t disagree. Drew is the kind of luxury that a team like Boston should invest in. Don’t forget his second half OPS was .837, and if you taking into account his concussion recovering April, his season OPS was .777. Boston’s roster if flexible enough that Drew would receive more at bats than we think without taking tons from X or WMB, who both may struggle at time. I will be surprised of Ortiz and Victorino play more than 130 games. He, Carp, and Gomes would create significant depth.
It’s crazy how Drew and the other free agents still haven’t found a new home yet and were about less then 2 weeks before pitchers and catchers report to spring training.
How’s it crazy? He’s not that good to begin with and teams don’t want to forfeit a draft pick for the guy or give him multiple years.
He’s a great defensive player, yeah he doesn’t hit for power but is not like a team is giving away a 1st round pick. I’ll feel bad if Jimenez and Santana doesn’t get a deal before spring training starts.
Freeman’s deal is more foreboding to the Orioles with Chris Davis; Freeman and Davis are both left-handed hitting 1B, but Freeman is three years younger.
The other issue for the Orioles with Davis is he’s a FA after the 2015 season and perhaps more of an issue then that is Scott Boras is his agent. And as we all know Boras likes to advise and steer his clients towards free agency.
I agree, at this point I’m expecting Davis to hit the free agent market; I was looking at how much it’ll take to sign Davis when he’s a FA, not lock him up to an extension because I just don’t see that happening.
If Davis has another season like he had last year Boras will be asking for Prince Fielder money.
That’s the $100MM plus question. He’ll be 30 years old if he hits FA after the 2015 season. If he has 2 more seasons with 30 to 40 HR’s per and 110 plus RBI’s. Which is something between his 2012 and 2013 seasons numbers. The thing that hurts him a little bit is his defensive at 1st base. Anyway I’m guessing if he throws up the numbers I’ve mentioned he should be looking at about a 7 year / $160MM +/- deal. I don’t think it will be much more then that because I think most teams have come to realize 8, 9 and 10 year deals are a huge mistake especially for a 30 year old.
If I were the Mets I would be more interested in Drew on 2 year deal with a low AAV than on a 1 year deal. With Harvey injured, the Mets are not in a good position to contend in 2014 so Drew would be more useful to them in 2015 than in 2014.
Doesn’t make sense giving more then a year when their a ton of options for the Mets via free agency and trade next offseason I don’t blame Sandy really for standing pat on not giving more then a year right now honestly.
They also are looking to buy a backup to starting catcher Matt Wieters, according to a source according to the Baltimore Sun! This is what Duquette was thinking back in Mid January. What are the Orioles are doing is beyond me! We have like 9 Outfielders signed to replace McClouth and who are we scouting another outfielder!
Marvelous! While Yenier Bello is very much available, the Orioles are bust scouting a player that hasn’t even been cleared yet! Marvelous! Absolutely Marvelous!
Stanton extension? With the Marlins? Bwah hah hah? Why on earth would he do THAT? If he wants to play for the Blue Jays, Mets or Yankees, he can sign with them in a couple of years, pick his city AND get paid more for the choice! Extensions for young players are for franchises that actually care about their players and their fanbase.
Unless the young guys show incredible promise, I doubt Stanton changes his stance on not signing an extension. He’s wanted out since the mass exodus and I haven’t heard much that’s he’s changed.
But if Fernandez and their OFers show some more promise and they possibly add some few other pieces, Stanton just might stay around since the young guys wouldn’t be moving any time soon.
Yup and I don’t blame him. Why resign with a organization that won’t do whatever necessary to compete? If I were him, I’d play out my contract and take off the first chance I got.
Not really sure why people are so confused that Drew hasn’t signed yet. Teams don’t want to lose a draft pick for a guy who’s not that good to begin with, not to mention he wants a multi year deal. If Middlebrooks wasn’t awful in the postseason it would’ve been Drew that got benched instead in favor of Xander.
If Castillo had experience at second or third then the Yankees should seriously consider him if not go all out for him. He would fill a huge hole and get the team younger at the same time.
If I were Drew, I wouldn’t want to even put a Mets uniform on the way they’ve talked about him this year. I think his performance would also show this.
Huh? The Mets haven’t said anything bad about the guy they just don’t want to commit more then a year to him which in that sense I don’t blame them as their are lots of options next year for SS whether its via free agency or trade so in that regard I don’t blame them.
This may sound pretty unconventional, but as a Mets fan, I wouldn’t want Drew or less than 3 years. Here is why:
1 year- This is basically a rental. I don’t think the Mets can reasonably be successful enough this year to justify a rental. Might as well give Tejada one more year and hope that he fills the hole internally. Even if you aren’t a Tejada fan, he is more likely to be a long term answer than Drew is.
2 year- This is the worst option. Not only do you eliminate any chance of Tejada being a long term option, but you also eliminate any chance of one of the many SS in the 2015 FA class of being the long term option.
The only way I can justify the Mets signing Drew is if they view him as a long term option. I don’t. I think they should just stick with Tejada
I wonder if the Yankees have asked Jeter to move to 2B. Obviously, the Yankees would never force Jeter to change positions but I think it would really benefit them if he made the transition and Drew signed to play SS. I also think, if anything, it could only help his persona as “the captain” if he did something selfless like that. No different than Cal Ripken
All this talk about the Mets having a continued dialogue with Drew is just an attempt by Boras to generate interest in a player for whom the market has been tepid at best. Injury history and pedestrian offensive numbers simply don’t warrant a commitment of dollars or years for a player who is average at best.